Mayor Bob in Outlook

Giant former mayor Bob Lanier weighs in on the Chron’s ongoing series on “What Sucks Worst about Houston? He writes about what Houston is, and where Houston came from, but he makes a good stab at what we need to do about it by saying:

To successfully compete in a world market, Houston should increase its focus on critical educational needs for the city and its people. The same is true for the environment and quality of life. I believe that with 5.5 million people and our inherited "can-do" spirit we can do that.

-Isn’t that it? Our next improvement project should be ourselves. I think our state demographer makes the same point, warning that Texas will become a third-world state if we don’t include everybody in the education process. Our current “catch as catch can/take the hindmost” society is not a sustainable life mode for any or all of us. That, plus we must clean this place up so we’re not poisoning everybody and while we’re at it, lets keep it pretty, to enhance our own peace of mind.

His piece is titled “We mostly agree on Houston’s future.” I hope everybody gets the word that we’re in agreement here. This dusty old gent may look funny, and dress funny, but he didn’t skate on the S&L crisis and get re-elected mayor for nothing.